Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1887-05-28
kENTUCkY'S MANSION.
An Old Time Residence Which Hat
Sheltered Many Great Men.
Especial Correspopdence1

An Old Time Residence Which Has
Sheltered Many Great Men.
Especial Correspondence
FRANKFORT, KY, May 90
The state Of Kentucky, like New York and
Pennsylvania and eight other states in the
Union, owns and furnishes dwelling for her
governors at the seat Of the government
This executive mansion, as it is called, is very
old and costly to maintain, but there seems
to be no disposition on the part of the legisla-
lures or people to repeal the law or withhold
the necessary appropriations for repairs or
household outfit, which is complete and ele-
giant in all its appointments and renewed
every four years with each change Of the ad-
ministiation. Ut is thought the strongest
reason for this dissemination to innovation
lies in the very nature OF the Kentuckians
local attachments, pride Of ancestry and VEN
Grafton for tradition, custom and historic rel
les Of hallowed past) The landmark under
review is SO closely interviewer with the his
tory Of the state that to destroy the character
OF the one would become in the minds Of the
natives self despoliation of a glory of the
other, which even a vandal would pause to
execute. Marshall, one of the earliest histo-
rians of the state, said that measures were
taken in 1899 to erect a house for the
residence of the governor" but it was not
until about 1909 that the present build
ing was finished. Though it is very UMPIRE
tentious and even ordinary two story brick
residence FOR these days, at that period, when
the population Of Kentucky only numbered
2O,955, it was regarded the handsonest and
most spacious home west Of the Allegheny
mountains. Governor Metcalf, who became
governor in 1928 under the sobriouet of
"Stone Hammer" laid the stone foundation
and the father Of Governor Letcher put up
the brick work. 1t is said that Governor
Letcler himself, as boy helping his father
in his trade, predicted to his parent when
they were together upon the walls, that he
would run for governor and live in the man.
sion they were buildings prediction he veri-
fed forty years afterward. The first occu-
pant OF the mansion was Governor James
Garrard, who succeeded Isaac Shelby, the
first governor OF the state. He, as those in
office after him have don e, considered it the
veritable "Kentu cky home," where the dis
pensation Of a governors hospitality has
made use of the name as theme
worthy the poet, painter and modelist.
Besides entertaining all distinguished people
who visited the capital, it has ever been the
custom Of the governors to give series of
brilliant levees and receptions each season. at
which the doors are thrown open to all alike
without distinction of class excepting colored
people, who have never ventured their pres
ence on these occasions). Not long after the
mansion was erected, Aaron Burr came to
frankfort and spent part of his visit as the
governors guest. He was subsequently, ar
rested for conducting his conspiracy in this
city, and brought to trial and ACQUITTED in
Richmond, Va. Louis Philippe, previous to
becoming king of France, and while travel
ing in the United States as an exile from his
country; Gen. Lafayette, in 1894; Presidents
Monroe and Gen. jackson, who were making
a tour of the country OH horseback; Count de
Bertrand, one of Napoleon's generals, who
followed him to st. Helena and there wrote
the memoirs of the Campaigns of Egypt and
Syria" as dictated by Napoleon; Presidents
Harrison and Taylor; Gems. Santa Anna and
Alnonte, who were prisoners of war in 1897,
after the battle of San Jacinto, and ell route to
w washington city, not to mention Henry
Clay, John j. Crittenden, Senator George
Vest, Governors B. Gratz Brown, T. T.
Ci1ttenden OF Missouri, Francis and Mont !
gomery Blair, and hundreds of other illus
trious Kentuckians, found shelter and enter |
tainment beneath the roof of this executive
If the walls of the parlors and |
study were an audiphone they could repeat to |
attentive ears Of to-day the interesting his
tory of past assemblages Of beauty, wit and |
sallantry, of loves inception, crowned with
and prosperity, of fearful plead
ngs for merciful penstroke to spare the dis
grace of felon or a life doomed to the gal
ows, and, above all, the secret plans of cabi-
let and field in which, through the various
tate, national and political changes and
rises of war, the country has found need
# taking into its confidence the services
# the governors Of Kentucky, Amos
Kendall, William T. larry, Clay, Critten-
len, Marshall, Breckenridge, Carlisle, Beck
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